Sedona via Flagstaff to the Grand Canyon
Today was a much shorter drive, though very different from yesterday as we were driving through the snow that had fallen overnight. After a lovely breakfast and snapping a few shots of Steller Jays and Dark Eyed Juncos who were breakfasting outside on monkey nuts we were on our way to the Grand Canyon. Would it live up to the hype I wondered? Or would the reality fall flat.
(please click on an image to enlarge)
We continued along 89A through Oak Creek Canyon weaving its way up and around the mountains. At the top we pulled into a viewing place to take a few photos of the canyon and the road on which we had just driven. I am so glad that they clear the roads in this part of the world!
By noon we’d arrived at Tusayan the town just before the south entrance to the park and we stopped to visit the IMAX theatre to watch a film about the Canyon which is well worth doing if you haven’t been there before. Though I must be the only person on earth who suffers travel sickness whilst watching these films! I have to close my eyes to stop myself from feeling dizzy.
The Grand Canyon fills me with awe. It is beyond comparison – beyond description, absolutely unparalleled throughout the wide world. Let this great wonder of nature remain as it is now. Do nothing to mar its grandeur, sublimity and loveliness. You cannot improve on it. But what you can do is keep it for your children, your children’s’ children and all who come after you, as the one great sight which every American should see. Don’t let them skin this wonderful country – as they will try to do” ~ Theodore Roosevelt, May 6, 1903
Now we were in the park and following the one-way system to our hotel – El Tovar – where we had booked for the night. It is a National Historic Landmark and is right on the South Rim with views of the canyon from rooms on the northern wing.
The hotel is made from native stone and Oregon pine and the design is based on European hunting lodges and has a world-renowned restaurant along with canyon views.
After settling in to our room, we went to have our first look at the view and then find the shuttle bus which would take us to Hermits Rest which is closed to private vehicles.
There are no words to describe your first view of the grand Canyon. Photographs do not do it justice, you cannot capture the multiple layers and colours and the sheer scale of the size and form. It overwhelms the senses and all you can do is stand and stare. Take time to pause on the rim and take in Earth’s history.
Don’t rush your visit to the Canyon. I know some people do a half day trip from Las Vegas, but it is worth spending at least one night there. During the afternoon we used the shuttle bus along the 7 miles to Hermits Rest and stopped off at different viewpoints along the way. You can of course walk the trail along the rim, but there are unpaved sections and while we were there it was very icy and snow covered so unless you have adequate walking boots I would advise using the bus.
Visit the Kolb Studio, perched on the edge of the rim, the Victorian home of the Kolb Brothers who created a lasting legacy of adventure, exploration, family love, and amazing Grand Canyon photography or hike down Bright Angel Trail, if only to the first tunnel, if you are brave and it is not covered in snow!
And if time allows the genuine artistry of Native American jewellery deserves a look in the better gift shops at the Hopi House or the Watchtower. Check for a genuine silver hallmark and the quality of stones in the lovely silver and turquoise jewellery. Hopi rugs, pottery and Kachina dolls are also good souvenirs. Finally we returned to the Village just before sunset around 6:30 before heading off into the El Tovar restaurant for a well-deserved steak.
TRAVEL WORDS 
It looks extraordinarily beautiful, Jude. This is a trip I always wanted to make. Well, who doesn’t, really? Vegas has no appeal.
Did you write copious notes, Jude, or are you doing this from memory with a few internet helps?
It is breath-taking Jo. To be honest I didn’t know what to expect. I had read a book about going down the Colorado on a raft which I found interesting, but I hadn’t really looked into the region much. I do keep a travel diary whilst I am away in which I jot down reminders of places such as quotes, reviews, historical facts. The rest is from memory (what we did each day) or supplemented from the Internet or leaflets I collect whilst there. I did spend a lot of time researching the itinerary for this trip as I wanted to make the most of the little time we had there.
I agree with you about photos not doing the scenery justice. We did the Grand Canyon in 2010. I thought it would be a one time thing and get it marked off the bucket list, but when we saw it we just knew we had to go back. Next time it’s the north ridge which was still closed for winter when we were there.
This trip was in 2010 too and the North Rim was closed (we went in March) – I wonder how different it looks from the other side? Are you tempted to do the rapids down the river? I’m glad to have seen it, but doubt that I’ll return – too many other sites to see and too little time!
I have a friend who did the rapids and she loved it, but me….no, not the rapids. We went in May, got there a week before the north rim opened.
Oh, that was a shame. I suppose the date it opens depends on the snowfalls they’ve had. Difficult to judge.
Breathtaking scenery indeed Jude, and an alternative view from the usual Grand Canyon travelogues. Flagsatff always reminds me of the lyrics of the song ‘Route 66’.
Regards as always, Pete. x
Thanks Pete. I toyed with going part way along Route 66 but to be honest that route looked a bit boring so I settled on going via Sedona and very glad I did.
Love your Grand Canyon pictures. They illustrate just why man is so insignificant when pitched against nature. Awesome. In the true sense of the word.
So difficult to photograph this place and give it the justice it deserves. Need 3D effect!
Wow. Takes your breath away 🙂
It certainly does, you just can’t stop yourself from staring into the depths picking out different formations. On the next post I’ll have a photo of the Colorado River with some tiny specks that are the rafters. Then you realise the scale of this place. Almost. 🙂
Wow, I look forward to that 🙂
Well your photos are just beautiful Jude but I agree, nothing can do the Grand Canyon justice other than just being there, taking pause and staring for a very long time at the majestic and awe-inspiring, raw beauty of this incomparable place.
I remember Hermit’s rest and all you describe, the drive from Flagstaff, everything. We had some snow when we went in April but it was sunny at the Canyon.
Thank you for taking me back there, for the great memories of what was for me a wonderful family time spent there some years ago.
Lovely post and I’m so glad that you got to go 🙂 xx
So am I Sherri, it was never really on my ‘list’. In fact the USA wasn’t really on my list, and I though the Canyon would be overrated and busy, but we were there in March and it wasn’t too bad, although the weather was cold and icy at least it was dry!
I’m glad this brings back good memories. A bit more of the Canyon on my next week’s travelogue 🙂
Look forward to it 🙂
Enjoyed your photos. I’ve been to the Grand Canyon twice . . . but haven’t see it yet.
As a teen, I refused to get out of the car. We’d been traveling for a month with 4 kids, a pop up camper, and a Great Dane and I had had enough. I stayed in the car reading a book rather than looking at “another bunch of rock formations.”
I did enjoy Bryce and Zion canyons on that trip, plus the Badlands, Mt. Rushmoor, Devil’s Tower, Tuzigoot, Meteor Crater, Petrified Forest, etc.
Years later, my husband and I did a cross country tour which included the Grand Canyon. When we got to the rim, the fog was so thick, you couldn’t see the hand at the end of your arm.
Oh no! How annoying – I am glad you enjoyed seeing it through my eyes, and there’ll be some more next week. It is an incredibly stunning region geologically speaking. [Now off to Google Devil’s Tower and Tuzigoot]
We loved spots like Tuzigoot and other Indian ruins. Fascinating to see how Native Americans carved a niche in canyon walls as shelter.
I look forward to your next installment.
Hi Jude – great job on this one. You’re right, you simply cannot convey the grandeur of the canyon in a photo but you’ve done a great job trying. Sadly I’m one of those who had a very short visit because of commitments on either side. If you can see it briefly, do it because it beats nothing, right 🙂 Some day I’ve promised myself I’ll go back!
Definitely worth a view even if a quick one, if you are in the area. There is nothing like it.Hope you make it back for a longer visit, I reckon you’d get some good photographs there 🙂
What a wondrous sight this is, Jude. My photos of this wonderful place, are very old, and not good at all. I have to go back there one day and do it properly, as we just stopped off there for an hour or so, and were very tired after our sleepless night in Flagstaff. 😦 I did enjoy the I-Max though. 🙂
Sounds like another trip is required Sylvia to see it properly. Definitely worth it. All the I-Max films that I have seen are brilliant, but they do make me feel queasy!
We only did a half day trip from Las Vegas but I wish we had spent more time there as your suggest. Looks like you had great weather! And some lovely shots of the canyon. I’ve always wanted to visit the US deserts after a snowfall, the juxtaposition is quite bizarre! You’ve certainly reignited my desire to visit the canyon again, fantastic post 🙂
You’ll probably enjoy some of the shots in later posts Ben – when there was more snow! We were very lucky with the weather – very cold, but mostly dry (Sunday was the greyest day), blue skies, sun shining and scenery to die for! More canyon photos next week!
Sounds great! I’ll look forward to those next week 🙂